The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1887-04-19
ESTABLISHED 1880.
II. EsTILL, Editor and Proprietor.
THE RAILROADS RIGHTS.
THE RICHMOND AND A1sLEGHANY
REFUSED EXEMPTION.

c,lause Will Be Enforced Where No
. Good Cause Exists for Suspension
The Railroads Told Not to Be Hypo-
criticsllv Afraid Of the Alleged Terri
,la Penalties Held Over Them by the
Law.
WASHINGTON, April 1s.-The following
ren1v in substance, has been sent to sew
aral railroad companies which have ap-
pl,ad for relief from the short haul pro
vision of the law without making, i'll the
orinion of the commission, a satisfactory
showing of facts to support even temporary
orders:
To Dec1tur 1rteit Esq. Receirer, Etc.;
NAM SIR You have filed With this commits
,ion y I,etition to have the Richmond and Ale
yhanv railroad included among the railroads
Entitled TO claim exemption, which may be
authorized under the fourth section of the act
under which this commission IS formed The
natition is not verified and If it We're otherwise
sufacient it would be necessary TO return 1t for
That important formality but in substance,
also the petition is clearly defective. ~ does
not set forth facts sufficient for the purposes
of an intelligent Judgment upon the situation.
The law under which we are working lays
down general rule which is presumptivey just
and which must be applied in all cases unless
facts are shown which make particular case
clearly exceptional. These should be SHOWN by
tht, netition which is presented for relief, and
the commission before il can grant relief. must
satisfy itself on investigation that the facts are
a. stated and that they render the ordinary op-
Grafton Of the law oppressive to an extent that
warrants an exception being made in
the petitioners favor. We do not
think . YOU make such case
nv vcnr petition Its statements are very brief
and general and are quite as much expressions
of opinions as statements of fact. The prayer
of the petition is also too broad. You ask that
the operation Of the law be suspended generally
rs 70 yorr road Int the commission does not
grant general suspension TO any road, but gives
relief ONLY rs to traffic between specified points.
FOR these reasons no order is made on your pc
Jtjon Very respectfully,
T. NJ. COOLEY, Chairman.
AN FxPRgss COMPANY ACQUIEsCEs.
Fxpress companies having raised a ques-
tion as to whether they were subject to the
operations Of the interstate law, the COM
mission made a ruling that it would hold in
the affirmative but would give hearing to
anv company wishing TO contest the point.
The Canadian Express Company in re-
Spouse TO whose inquiry this ruling was
made has notified the commission that it is
carving ont the provisions of the inter
state commerce law, and forwards a copy
of its general tariff from offices in the
United States
In reply to Bishop Knickerbocker, of In
disnapolis who inquired AS to the right of
railroad to transport missionaries at re-
duced rates, the commission writes that it
has no power in the premises.
There is no doubt Judge Cooley adds.
"of the right of a railroad to grant special
| privileges to religious teachers. and in de-
Gliding in good faith what they will do they
can scarcely be said to incur the risk Of
penalties. The penalties are for willful
violation of the law, and not for errors of
Judgment
Replies Of similar p,uport have been made
20 inquiries with respect TO transporting
persons as acts Of charity.
To an inquiry In regard to the institution
OF suits by District Attorneys, the Commits
sion writes: "ln deciding upon the institu-
uon OF suits the United States District At
Uofney must act upon his own judgment"
THE MOST IMPORTANT YET
The following embodies by far the most
important action Yet taken by the commits
Aon: The immediate matters selected to
"nlch to append the opinions of the com
mission only affect the interests of limited
classes, but the opinions themselves cover.
N important respects, the Interpretation of
tne interstate law and determinations re-
spectmg the extent of the power with
"hlch the commission deems itself charged
and as is proven by the immense CORES
pondence OF the commission, are of interest
70 almost every branch of trade or com
merce IN the land An application in writ
ing has been made TO the commission for
It's answer to the following questions pro
pounded on behalf of the Order of Railway
Conductors:
y. Are railway companies prohibited
1i Ipili ISSUING Tree transportation to the inn
mediate families of the employees of their
own Tailwaysl
= Are railway companies prohibited
rom issuing free or reduced transportation
~ollcers OF associations composed exclusive
oi railway employees while those officers
aIe temporarily ont of the railway service
S slu exclusively employed by those associa-
.; May railway companies issue passes TO
anployeS OF other railways on application
~ .ne employer, and must such application
He rom an officer of the company by
which he is employed!
.s 49, Nay railway companies issue free or
apluced transportation to those who make
rt ~e railway service their business or trade
n uiIe aae temporarily out of employment and
Msearch of situations.
D. May railway companies rorovide free
importation. r,,a for delegates to annual con
a'airs ar.1lons OF an association composed exclu-
Eel9 oi railway employees upon certificates
. uoll olncerS OF the association that they are
%cn representatives!
n ~ II Tree transportation may be furnished
4 -. III c9eilatlNes described in question
mMuSO all such representatives be actually
ue employ of some railway, or may Il
of f@uue @ those VINO may be temporarily out
eulployment and those temporarily en-
sr s1sgu IN IN other employment5 as officers of
sum associations?
ho 81 II tree transportation is provided for
mnt'G tuGSegates described in question ). may il
H. "st ns. members OF the immediate fami-
"S OF the delegates.
an. IL II iree transportation or reduced rates
NsIot lued Tor representatives of any one
an 1.iuvi"n, must tho same be extended TO
ol lH'lS which are composed exclusively
'"ay employees on application.
., BAGGAGE or DRuMMERs.
niiolher application has been made TO the
Tyis'i94 on behalf OF the Traders and
wtje'elS Union stating The yystem under
gp,, an additional allowance Of free bag-
ns,d1"s n"s been heretofore carried bv COM
nsnt a. travellers, subject toa written agree
Which 'or registry and ndemnihcation.
ts,l& system the commission is requested
kai'lile carefully and advise MS id there
tros JASON why railroad compnny. de
anoss.l,'',lo ' 90 No. should not enter into such an
mn.1,.''ii 'ii,l't i't 20 grant under stated terms on
"rs HInwnnce of free baggage.
n.f..t. tNp petitions presented bv highly
typ '.pin associations and rnisina Giies-
sle rs, Nhlnediate practical Importance.
anl I'"'iiatifcs ~ @ largs number of
10 r "lPifntions which have been ntaae
''' commission t,,. ft. 5000. 49,. =.